A single illegal bingo charge was filed against Linda J. Brenneman, 62, of 9041 E. Southview St., Minerva, and Kathy McVicker, 57, of 329 Freedom Ave. NE. The latter also is known as Kathy Greenlief, according to Municipal Court records.

“What happened is we got an anonymous tip that this place was conducting illegal gambling,” said Julie Hinds, public relations official for the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

Along with criminal charges filed against individuals, state agents filed 22 administrative charges against R&R Tavern. All of those except one alleging unsanitary condition are related to illegal gambling allegations.

“We will forward this to the (Ohio) Liquor Control Commission,” Hinds said. “They will decide what happens to the liquor permit. Once the criminal cases are completed, the administrative cases will take shape.”

Attempts to reach the Hoovers on Tuesday were not successful.

STATE: NO PERMIT

The Hoovers conducted instant bingo at the tavern without a state permit, according to complaints filed with Municipal Court. The alleged infractions occurred on Dec. 28 and 29.

“There was no proper instant bingo license or contract on file,” Hinds said. “Therefore, it was illegal bingo.”

Bingo operator permits have to be issued from the state attorney general’s staff.

Brenneman seemed miffed by the allegations when reached Tuesday.

“I never worked there, but I help out there,” Brenneman said. “They had asked me if I could keep an eye on the bar until they came back. Why am I drug into it? I don’t even work there. I know those people so well, they would not do that.”

She also is facing a misdemeanor count of violating a state prohibition of operating a skill-based amusement machine.

Brenneman described McVicker as a member of the cleaning staff.

MORE CHARGED

State agents also filed misdemeanor charges against two employees of the nearby Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3747 at 1935 Avalon Ave. NE.

The charges are violations against a state prohibition of operating a skill-based amusement machine. The suspects are two Canton women, ages 53 and 42.

The Repository does not generally name misdemeanor crime suspects.

“This at the VFW looks like electronic gambling devices which would be machines,” Hinds said. “That was all electronic gambling. And there was a cash payout. Anything of value is illegal in the state of Ohio.”

While not denying the allegations, an official with the VFW post alluded to activities at area skill-game halls.

“Go over there on Route 62; all those places have those machines,” said Harold Hoskinson, post commander (Information has been corrected to fix an error. See correction at end of story. Jan. 26, 2011, 5:15 p.m.). “They get all the money. At least we give ours to charity.”

State agents also filed 12 gambling-related administrative charges against the VFW post.

Correction: U.S. Route 62 in Stark County is a federal highway. It was misidentified in a story Wednesday in the main News section, Page A-5 in a story about owners and workers at a local tavern being accused of running illegal bingo games.